Norway is channelling 2 million Norwegian krone (about 0.33 million U.S. dollars) of emergency relief to Lebanon, focusing on health care issues, according to reports reaching here from Oslo on Saturday.

"It is important that emergency relief reaches those in need quickly. That is why Norway is providing these funds now," said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, quoted by Norwegian Broadcasting.

The fighting between Fatah al Islam and the Lebanese Army has created a serious humanitarian situation for the Palestinian refugees in the Nahr al Bared camp and for those who have been forced to flee the camp.

"Norway is very concerned about the situation in northern Lebanon and will follow further developments closely. We urge the parties to do their utmost to avoid harming the civilian population, " the Norwegian foreign minister added.

Source: Xinhua